Creel.



S. W. WARD WELL.

GREBL.

APPLIGJJIION FILED MAR.22, 1905.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

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S. W. WARDWELL GHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZQ, 1905.

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, T all whom it may concern:

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

,SIM'ON, w. -WARDWELL, orrno'v'xpnnc'n, ame 'rsna'nn, n'ssreuo'n r0 un t/Easier. WINDING COMPANY, or PORTLAND, MAINE, A conroaa'rron or MAINE. I l

Patented Apr. 2, 1912'.

I Application filed March 22, 1905. SeriaI'NO. 251,485.

.Be it known that I, SIMON W. \VAnnwici-m,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Creels, of which the following is a specification. Y My invention relates to improvements in creels for delivering yarn to warping or other machines.

The object of my invent-ion is to increase the capacity of the creel within a minimum floor space, to increase the rate of delivery of the yarn, and to provide for a uniform tension of the yarn, eliminating all breakage and strain and unevenness of delivery.

" The following is a description of the invention, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure-1. is aplan view of the creel; Fig.

2, an elevation of one wing of the creel taken at right angles thereto; Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional. view of, the cone support or holder; Fig. 4, an enlarged side view of the tension device; Fig. 5, an end view of the same, part sectional on the line 22, Fig; 4. Fig. 6, a modification of thecone holder.

The creel as shown has two wings Aand B,

preferably hinged together at a, so that they may be adjusted to set at different angles to vary the direction of the lead of the yarns. 'The creel is preferably made of gas-pipe or tubing to render it light 'and strong, and

each wing comprises two connected frames 72 and 0. Each frame is composed of two hOIlzontal rods or pipes e e and vertical rods or pipes hereinafter referred to. On the hprizontal rods are disposed at equal intervals the connections f f, etc., retained by set screws or other suitable means, and bored to receive the ends of the vertical pipes g 7, 71. it, etc. The vertical pipes may be threaded and screwed into the connections or simply fitted to the bores and held-by' set screws. The frames or grids b and c are set parallel to each other, slightly apart, and braced by the brackets cl (Z extending between the horizontal pipes. A suitable number of the ver- 1 toning, through --any' suitable means, The inner frames or grids b I) support the cones G C, etc., arranged each atan acute angle to the frame by means of holders- D D, etc., shown in detail in' Fig. 3, fastened to the vertical pipes g g and arranged one above the other just sufficiently apart to admit the full cones. The cones in alternate rows are preferably arranged in a staggered relation,

as shown inFig. 2, to give a more compact disposal while providing cl arance for the The cone holder is shown in its referred form in Fig. 3, and consists essentially of a bracket portion 7a,,forked or recessed to receive the rod or pipe g, and a conical mandrel Z, adapted to receive the paper or fiber shell on which the cop-is wound. The mandrel Z preferably cloesnot extend the whole length of the tube, but is just long enough to provide a firm bearing for the tube and is of hollow section to contain the holding device. The bracket is clamped to the rod or pipe g by the set screw n, and I have found 'it best to provide suitable counterbores in the pipes to receive the pointed ends of the setscrews, thus determining the propempositions of the holders. Any suitable means might be used to retain the cone on its holder, but I preferto employ the improved device now described.

It will be obvious that where so great a number of supplies is used as here required a saving of time in placing the cones and .in dofling the empty tubes will be of material advantage. With this object inmind, I have provided a simple and effective means whereby the cone is simply pushed onto its holder and by its-own movement is engaged by a retaining device which secures it firmly inplace. When the yarn on the'tube is exhausted, "the operator dofi's it 'by simply drawing it off the holder. This is effected through the element of a yielding, swinging dog 0 preferably formed of flat spring metal having one end hinged on the pin 77, the 1atter secured in the interior of the -hollow mandrel Z. The dog 0 is formed with a U shaped bend q midway between its ends to give the required resiliency, and the free end projects through an opening or slot r in the shell of the mandrel, being sharpened to engage the inside of the cone tube m. The dog 0 is normally in the position indicated by dotted lines, so that when the 11? is pushed .firmly against jarring off or accidental displacement from other causes. When it. is

required to doff the tube, a sharp pull overcomes the pressure of the dog, and the tube is released, its movement carrying the dog forward into its original position, shown by dotted lines.

A modification of the cone holder is shown in Fig. 6, in which the dog 0 is a thin piece ofmetal pointed at one end and mounted in a slot in the-stud3. A pin 4 fastened in the dog extendsthrough a second transverse slot. in the stud 3 and a coiled spring 5. surrounding the stud, bears on the pin to press the dog outward. Thepointed end of the dog extends through an opening 6 in the mandrel Z which limits the movement of the dog. The action of this device is essentially the same as that of the one previously described. The dog engages the inside of thetube, and is swung past the pivot point by the movement of the tube onto the holder, the pin 4 sliding in its slot and compressing the spring 5.

It will be realized that the placing of the cones on the creel requires no skill or care on the part of the operator. Other cop holding devices known in the art depend upon some manual operation other than the mere placing of the cop to secure it in post. tion, as, for instance, twisting it on its seat or screwing it onto the mandrel, or fastening it by manipulating levers, springs or dogs. In my device it is only necessary to place the cop in position and the securing is eifected automatically, so that there is no danger of the cone becoming loose and falling oil through carelessness of the operator in fastening it. Besides this, a considerable saving intime is accomplished.

It will be understood from the drawing, see Fig. 1, that the frame or rack which supports the cones is positioned back of the frame supporting the tension devices. The

cones are set with their axes in line with the receiving points of the "tensions, and the latter are so adjusted that the yarns from one .wing are directed to converge toward those of the other, to meet at the warping or other machine. .By adjusting theangle of the wings of the creel,th e yarns may be laid in diflerent widths to adaptthem for different lengths of beams, suitable rolls ,or

guides, not here shown, being provided on the warping machine to direct the yarn ontothe beam.

An important feature of myinvention is 7 theimproved tension device whereby a constant tension is maintained upon the'separate yarns despite the irregularities of delivery of the cop. Experience and extended practice have determined that there is but delivering yarns. This is the system where by the applied tension automatically compensates for variations in the resistance to delivery of the cop. This method is only applicable through the agency of the means new described, and the essential feature of this means is the arrangement of elements or members to close onto the yarn running between the members. It will be recognized that the resistance to delivery of the yarn is subject to varying conditions in the cop. When the cop is full, 'the yarn delivers with comparatively little resistance, owing towits large diameter and the considerable amountof yarncontained in each coil, but when the cop is reduced in diameter, the coils contain much less yarn and, consequently, must uncoil much faster. This increase in the speed of unwrapping of the coils throws the yarn outward from centrifugal force, producing one correct method of applying tension tov what is termed ballooning; The ballooning of the yarn is met by an atmospheric pressure which sets up a considerable resistance to the delivery of the yarn. In this way the resistance to deliveryof the yarn from start to finish of the cop is increased materially, and it will be seen that the tension device 'must be very sensitive to this change and must adjust itself to maintain an ultimate uniform tension on the yarn. But, with the usual tension devices known'in the art, this effect cannot be reached; When the yarn is carried over a pad or interlaced over fingers, hooks or equivalent devices,

every increase in resistance to'delivery in the cop is added to or'multiplied by the tension device. That is, if a yarn is being drawn from the cop with a given resistance on the cop, and a given tenslon is being applied, the instant the resistance of delivery increases,

'from the causes before mentioned, the applied tension also increases so that there is not only the added resistance of the cop but,

besides this, there is the added resistance of the tension device.

Again, when the yarn is delivering from the cop with comparatively little resistance, it passes through the tension device with proportionately small resistance so that it must be obvious that all the yarn by applying-pressure to carry the two members between which the yarn runs toward. each other. The tension members are formed with parallel bars, thebars-of one alternating with those of the other, and

are supported to be moved toward eachothe'r. The preferable mode of accomplish;

ing this is to support one member fixedly" and to hinge the other to swing toward the fixed member. By this arrangement, the

vbarsofi one member may be adapted. to pass by th'ebarsof the other member slightly so that a sinuous course is imparted'to the tension;

thread passing. between the bars, and the amount of tension to be applied may be deliveryat' the cop, it tends to straighten its eourse -reducmg the sinuosity. The-tension members open to accommodate the straighteningv of the yarn, and their pressure on the yarn is decreased because the yarn, passing through the tensionsv straight, meetswith lessresistance owing to the less contacting surface. In this Way the applied tension is decreased to correspond with the increase of the. incidental resistance in the cop, and when the initial resistance of the cop decreases, the tensions close again to compensate for this change. It will be seenlthat the ultimate tension-on the yarn remains practically uniform throughout the delivery notwithstanding the variation set up by the S,. see F ig, 4, isadapted to beclamped to Clhe arrangement in general is similar" to that described in my Letters Patent No. 792,093, granted June 13, 1905. A bracket the rod or pipe i by the screw 8, the point of the screw entering acounterbore in the pipe to locatethe bracket in its proper position. The fixed tensionmember in the form of a plate or grid t issupported opposite the 'similarly formed movable member 25 both plates having cars at either end, through which the rod 11. extends, the latter held in lugs at the ends of the bracket S. The can t of the plate I, overhangs the bracket S and a rod 10 hooksinto it, the rod having a double bend allowing it to enter a hole in the ear and then engaging the ear with its shoulder when the rod hangs vertically.

The rod 20 is adapted to support the weights w", their number being'varied at will to ad-v just the tension on the yarn.

beyondit and the tensions close again, thecross-bar acts as a guard to prevent the yarn from whipping or flying out. The fixed tension plate is held by a Stud a: passing through the-ear it into the bracket; andthis The fixedtension 1s held rigid by the ear 2S fastened edge of the plate engages the lug 'v on the arm 0 and rocks the lever 11, lifting its weighted end. After the yarn has been drawn down beyond the finger t, the plate t is released, and the weight on the lever o acts to swingit back tothe perpendicular, where the pressure of the weights w then This is an acts to close it onto the yarn. important feature, for with light yarns it isonly required to use so light a weight on the rod w that it would not be-suilieient to overcome the weight-of the plate when the latter had been swung open beyond the per pendicular. It is pointed out that the lever 2) does not bear on the plate i when the latter is in operative position, being limited by the rod u, but only serves to bring the plate close to the yarn,'all the pressure being applied through the weights 10 attached to the arm t Besides operating to automatically close the tensions, the lever '1) serves another purpose: that of preventing undue chattering or vibration of the movable plate. Yarns varyinsizc and have bunches, slnbs or knots, and when these enlarged portions pass through the tensions. the latter open to accommodate them. 'lhesudden impact of the bunch on the movable plate is apt to swing the plate open too far, relieving the yarn of all tension, and when the plate returns, its momentum increases the effect of the normal pressure unless some means is provided to limit such unduemovement of the plate 25 The lug '0 on the lever v permits the tension plate to swing open just far enough to pass the hunches or knots in the yarn, but excessive movement is prevented by the inertia of the lever 11 when the plate strikes the lug Xv.

It will be evident that there may be different arrangements of pressure devices whereby one. acts to'apply tension to the thread under general conditions and the other to move into normalposition the movable element of the tension device when said The operation of threading the tensions is very simple, it being only necessary to carry the yarn down into the guide 3/ and across the finger 25 The pressure of the yarn on the finger opens the tensions and admits the thread which is then passed through the guide 2 to the take-up device which may be the warping or other Ina-.-

chine. It will be appreciated that this provision for ease and despa-tch in threading the tensions is most important, for,;in Inanipulatingthe yarns from several hundred supply cops, considerable time is saved.

'- Other arrangements where the yarns, must be passed through or around several eyes or hooks require the expenditure of much time and pains on the part of the operator, and are not adapted for the use here'described,

:it being obvious that, should one of the yarns become broken or snarled, it would be a difiicult, almost impossible task to find and thread it up again among such a mass of yarns.

Having described my invention in detail,

I will new state briefly the method of operation. The creel is adjusted with the tensions directed toward the beam-of the warp ing mechanism and the cone-holders or mandrels pointing toward the receiving points of the tensions. -Starting with the row of 'mandrels nearest the front of the creel, the

operatofplaces the cones onto their holders,

and the latter are automatically gripped and held in place. The'yarn is passed from each cone through its appropriate tension devise, disposed directly .in line with the axis of the cone, and the end is then ready to deliver to the warping or other machine.

This operation is continued until the proper number of cones are placed on each wing of the creel, and the ends are then gathered up and carried over suit-able guiding rolls to the beam. v

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the form and arrangement of my creel renders the manipulation of the supplies exceedingly convenient. The

frame is low enough to bring the upper row of cones within the easy reach of operators of small stature, and by passing along the sides of the creel every cone is accessible,

ment of the creel with the cops C C mounted on the rear frames 1) b and the tension devices supported on the forward frames 0 c,

thisarrangement might be reversed. That is, the cops C 0 could be mounted on the frames 0 0, and the tension devices on theframes 6 Z) so that-:the creel would facein the opposite direction with its open end towartlthe warping machine."-.Ag-ain, one :set of frames might be dispensed with by supporting the cops on the frames 6 7) constituting the rear support and mounting the tension devices ,on arms extending from the rods of said frames and constituting the outer support, but with this arrangement it would be necessary to dispose the cones farther apart to provide room for the tension holding arms to extend between them, and

the creel wouldnmt be nearly so compact.

Besides, it would not be so convenient to place the cops on the creel and to manipulate the yarns, because the arms would be in the way. The creel would not be so firmly supported either; so, considering all points, the arrangement. first described and illustrated is considered preferable.

While 'creels have been used consisting of frames arranged at an acute angle, the yarn has passed directly from spools on said frames and not through tension devices for ward of the spools, the tension being applied to the spools; and while cops have been arranged in creels and'the yarn con ducted to tension devices forward of the cops, the yarn in such cases has passed in lines at right angles to the frames.

By the arrangement which I have ad opted of, or in line with the axis of, the in clined cop, I secure a greater space between the cop and tenslon device, and a greater 3 length of yarn between the two to allow of the proper ballooning of the thread, which, when the yarn passes in lines at right angles to the frame, would require the tension supports and cops tobe placed-a much greater distance apart and require a much greater floor space, necessitating also the placing of the-creel frames at right angles to the lines of thread delivery] I do not here claim the construction of the tension device by itself, but only the arrangement of an automatically adjustable tension device in combination with a creel of the form here shown.

hat I claimisz 1. The combination in a V-shaped creel, of two, sets of parallel frames, each frame comprising two horizontal rods and a plu rality of vertical rods arranged parallel to each other and supported on the horizontal rods, of:cop holderssupported on the vertical rods of the rear frames and adjustable up and down and around the rods, and tension devices supported on the rods of the forward frame and adjustable up and down and around said rods to aline them with the cop holders.

2. A knock-down creel having wings arranged at an acute angle to each other, each wing consisting of two frames and each frame comprising two horizontal rods and a series of parallel vertical rods, means on the horizontal rods to secure them to the ends of the vertical rods, brackets secured to the horizontal rods of one frame to support it in relation to the opposite frame,

inged joints to connect the adjacentends of the two wings, cop supports having brackets adapted to be removably secured to the vertical rods of one frame, and ten-- sion devices having bracketsadapted to be removably secured to the vertical rods of the opposite frame.

3. A creel having two sets of parallel frames, holders arran ed to support cops to.

means to adapt the tension devices to be adjusted to aline with the axes of the cops supported on the holders.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I SIMON W. WARDWELL. Witnesses: v

THOMAS M. CmLns, ARTHUR I. HARVEY. 

